I wasn’t always a believer in veggie burgers. I usually scoffed at my friends who opted for Boca Burgers at cookouts and have never shied from eating meat. When I was little, my parents thought it fitting to nickname me “Little Carnivore,” a nickname I’ve since grown out of but that sometimes comes back to haunt me at dinner parties. When I finally let down my stubborn guard for a moment and tried one, I fell for veggie burgers’ charm instantly.

Veggie burgers are championed for their health benefits, having all the fiber and vitamins of …

Lora Krulak is a vegetable expert and nutritional muse who embraces a veggie-centric lifestyle. She gathered her recipes while traveling around the world and her professional background includes training at the ICE Culinary Cooking School. I was lucky enough to review Lora about her awesome new cookbook, Veggies for Carnivores. I was also able to ask her more questions specifically directed at college students and recent grads.

Zoe McKinnell recently graduated from Brown University and moved to Cambridge, Mass. to work at a hospital in the area. She is getting used to living in a studio apartment and trying to …

I went through a bizarre health kick my senior year of high school. I became vegan, binged on yoga, and cut back on coffee. And to round out my salad stint, I decided to try a cleanse. I spent an absurd amount of money on fresh produce to make juice and spent five days of my life blending, straining, and drinking ground-up fruits and vegetables. I was promised nirvana – isn’t that what all those “enlightened” yoga-toned, manicured mommies at my studio claimed?

The only sort of liberation I felt was a sort of hunger-induced delirium. But my …

I must confess that I have never had a problem with my roommates eating my food. Ever. (I’m knocking on wood as I write this) So, needless to say, I had little idea what to suggest. The only thing that comes to mind is to label everything and have each person have their own shelf. If that fails, give them food poisoning. The latter option seemed a little extreme, so I turned to my friends and asked them for some tried and true advice.

1. Psychoanalyze. Liz, the psychologist of the group and budding nurse, had to contend with this …

Snack: PB&J SmoothieBrain Booster Rating: 9 out of 10. High in protein and no added sugar, this smoothie is also a great recovery shake post-workout. The berries have antioxidants which have a number of health benefits.Equipment: blender, bullet or food processorIngredients: peanut butter, frozen or fresh mix of berries (I use frozen for a thicker smoothie), skim milk, protein powder (optional), ice

With Black History Month right around the corner, and New Year’s resolutions in the distant past, I thought of no better time than now to pay tribute to one of my favorite …

A sweet potato is a regular potato’s sassy older sister. She wants to dye its hair orange, will throw a little bit of her opinion in everything anyone says or does, but she’s one of the coolest girls anyone has ever met. That’s a sweet potato. You can fill it up with delicious toppings and flavors, but its true personality always shows and it’s just a little bit different.

These orange spuds have a natural sweetness about them that makes cooking interesting. It’s best to keep your ingredients simple so the potato’s true flavor is still present and all of …

Every week we give you the latest in college news, trends, and lifestyle tips. If you have anything juicy, make sure to post it here on the Small Kitchen College facebook page, and we’ll include it in next week’s edition.

–Alexia Detweiler, Small Kitchen College Contributor.

**SKC Picks**

If you’re thinking about pledging a sorority, make sure you consider a few things first. Namely, why? If you’re doing it because you feel pressured to, or you feel like that’s just what college students do, you might want to reconsider.

Now that you’ve nailed your class schedule, (after dropping that boring 8 a.m. and picking up a much easier afternoon gen ed) you probably feel pretty good about yourself. Everything seems to be under control…except for your eating schedule. It’s hard to plan your meals when you have homework to do, club meetings to go to, and frat parties to attend. Sometimes you might not even get to eat dinner until late at night. That’s why it’s important to keep some healthy snacks in your backpack, if you happen to get cravings throughout the day. These snacks can be made …

With a standard one containing 15.5 gallons of beer (and costing around $80), a keg is one of the most cost effective and fun ways to mix up your party. After all, with a keg, no one’s stashing their case of Bud Light in the corner, or having to carry around their half-full bottle of wine; it’s much more communal. You just never know what attractive party-goer you’ll meet while you’re pouring your crew some refills. 15.5 gallons, depending on the party size, could be an awful lot of alcohol…or, your party could be like the one I attended last …

Once the mercury dips even the tiniest bit and a cool breeze flutters across my face, I want absolutely nothing to do with the crisp, refreshing salads and tart, juicy berries of summer. All I want is something warm and cozy to snuggle up with against the chilly winds of fall. While the change in diet may be delicious, it isn’t exactly waistline-friendly.